Brian power: Use it or lose it

October 19, 2012|Gayle Gennett | A Look at Life

"Use or lose it" is a wise adage still important as the day it first came off of someone's lips. I'd tell you who it was but I don't remember. Speaking of remembering, I attended a memory seminar presented by the assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Yassa is a bright, articulate young man whose lecture went over my head during the morning session but by the afternoon things began to click. Maybe he just brought it down a notch so someone like me could understand. I was, after all, on my third cup of coffee. As a writer, I was reminded our first sentence in every paragraph is the most important and will be remembered just as the first words we speak in general conversation are logged in our memory bank.

Our memory diminishes with age, illnesses, medications and stress. Something that I experience daily, but it's nice to have a professor acknowledge, is that when we are on a mission to accomplish something and we get sidetracked we tend to forget something.

Case in point: This morning I grabbed my wallet, grocery list, dog treats and packed a hat and gloves as temps were dropping quickly. I was so proud of myself and then it happened. I thought since it is raining I'll try putting that new rain coat on our little dog to keep him warm on this windy, rainy day. This was my sidetrack. When we were on the road miles from home I noticed I put on a different coat. The coat that I meticulously packed with what I would need was carefully hanging on the coat rack back in our toasty little home. Arrrrg!

Other things learned: Chronic stress is harmful to the brain and again this affects memory. I learned that a side effect to chemo treatments are forgetfulness and trouble concentrating that can last up to five years after treatments began. Alzheimer risk factors include genetics, head trauma, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high cholesterol and lack of exercise. Dr. Michael Yassa was concerned with the increase in the number of patients who acquire Alzheimer by the age of 65 and he suggested that his audience keep up with health checkups, have social interaction regularly, make physical exercise and mental exercise part of your daily routine and my favorite — adding caffeine to keep you sharp.

Successful aging is possible, though I am not a fan of sticking around until I'm 115. But with what brain power I have left it's important to keep involved with people, join organizations, learn a language or even begin playing the piano. All of these ideas keep our brains working, but don't forget to add physical exercise to this mix. It's also imperative to improve your balance, so we don't begin falling which leads to more health dilemmas. If you're not into yoga, try balancing on one foot for 10 seconds. Once this is accomplished, try again but with your eyes closed. Make certain a chair or something to grab is nearby until you can do this successfully. Another tip is trying to remember your grocery list. If you have time, try to remember what's on the list and then read the list you brought to see how well you did. If you can group it by letter, such as: butter, bread, bananas, that will help or maybe think of what your menu is and what it takes to make the meal. All of these little tips help keep our hippocampus intact. OK, that's the one word I remembered from the lecture because I use word association and in my head I say rhino college. Our brain, just like any other body part, needs exercise so learning something new or reading or being read to is helpful. Diet also plays a major role in retaining good health and memory, but that will be another article. A good friend suggested two great books regarding diet as it relates to this so I am warning my husband now that kale will be in his future. I feel certain he hopes I'll forget that item on my grocery list.

Gayle Gennett is a retired educator and counselor with more than 30 years experience. She is currently a licensed professional counselor in private practice focusing on youth and couples counseling. She also oversees the Lay Chaplaincy Program at Charlevoix Area Hospital. She holds a bachelor's degree in art education, a master's degree in guidance and counseling and post graduate work in administration all from Eastern Michigan University.